Continuing King’s Legacy

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy remains unmatched in more than 50 years of civil rights activism, and so does his influence. To commemorate the 2011 opening of the Washington, D.C. memorial honoring King, photographer Nikki Khan has captured a series of portraits of civil rights leaders who have carried on that legacy.

Following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, King heralded a wave of non-violent social change by inspiring followers to stage sit-ins, boycotts and marches. Each leader featured in this series stood by King during the Civil Rights Movement, and since his assassination, has drawn on his teachings to fight for underprivileged groups.

The Washington memorial was erected to honor King’s lifelong pursuit — to bring about justice, democracy, hope and love, and it is designed to encourage visitors to actively engage in King’s vision for a more tolerant world.

The Nikki Khan portrait series is currently on display at Washington D.C.’s The Newseum. See the photos through March 29, 2013 or visit our slide show to see more photos from “The Eyes of History 2012” exhibit.